Ged Maybury

GED MAYBURY is a science fiction writer turned Steampunk aficionado. He is sitting in front of a GREEN SCREEN dressed as an AIRSHIP CAPTAIN and speaks directly to camera in a faux upper-class British accent.

                                              GED MAYBURY

"Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to this short presentation. I am Ged Maybury, and I want to tell you about my artistic project: "The Video of the Song of the Book - 'Across the Stonewind Sky'".

"With your support I hope to create a short entertainment using the new-fangled 'moving-picture' camera, featuring the lilting voice of a lovely lady singing a song by my own fair hand, set to music composed by a splendid fellow of my acquaintance.

"Incidentally, it is the theme song of my latest book - a swash-buckling and somewhat saucy saga set in an alternative Victorian era of airships and ray-guns.  And might I take this moment to announce that the book will be out this October, in digital format. Huzzah!"

[He smiles with tired relief.]

                                         GED MAYBURY (cont.)

"But this is not about the book. It is about the song. My lovely little song has already had one public performance, and I have to say the performers did a thoroughly bang-up job of it. Good show!

"Now we're going to make a better recording of it, set it to some moving pictures, and make it available to all!

"I have already received enthusiastic support from the Brisbane Steampunk Community, a costumer and several talented filmmakers hereabouts – some of whom recently enjoyed the heady experience of taking their very own Steampunk film to the Cannes Film Festival. Splendid show, chaps and chapettes!

"You see; I want this project to be an opportunity for the crew and the actors to test their mettle, practice their filmmaking skills, and advance their career through the additional exposure this music video can give them. So your contribution will help everyone involved, not just me. Eh wot!

"Indeed, I hope to produce a high quality visual experience. For example: we are going to shoot the actors in front of a green screen and ... why look at that!"

[He points behind.]

                                           GED MAYBURY (cont.)

"I'm already in front of a green screen! With this technique we can fill in the background with many wonderful details: for example, we could have moving clouds."

[A cardboard cutout cloud is lifted into view on the end of a stick. It remains still.]

                                          GED MAYBURY (crossly)

"Moving .. clouds!"

[The cloud starts to waggle about.]

                                         GED MAYBURY (cont.)

"Thank you. And ... well; we could have some storms!"

[A cardboard cutout of a thunder storm is lifted into view.]

                                         GED MAYBURY (cont.)

"And airships!"

[A cardboard cutout of the Hindenburg is lifted into view.]

                                         GED MAYBURY (cont.)

"Even burning airships! ..."

[A hand appears holding a cigarette lighter. The lighter is sparked several times.]

                                         GED MAYBURY (crossly)

"No! Stop, you fool! Stop!"

[He does a face-palm, then waves his hand at the empty screen behind, continuing hastily.]

                                         GED MAYBURY (embarrassed)

"Anyway, it'll look a lot better than this, I promise!

"So, umm, anyway -  thank you for your attention, Ladies and Gentlemen.  And please give a round of applause to my assistant who deserves, well: a pat on the back at least.  Please give generously on your way out."

[A cardboard cutout of an Oscar statuette is lifted up, them quickly taken by the assistant's hand.  Ged doesn't even notice.]